Trigger warning: Mental Health, Suicide, Drugs and Alcohol

Welcome to Episode 120. Running for mental health with Lachy Cameron

Our mental health journey often starts long before we recognise it. This is why therapists ask you about your childhood. It helps set the scene for how you’re thinking, feeling and behaving as an adult. And this week’s guest shares how his childhood impacted his mental health right into adulthood. 

Lachy Cameron is a man on a mission. He shares his story of feeling abandoned by his father, and how alcohol and drugs helped mask the pain. He also shares how his house of cards fell down, and how this prompted him to make positive changes in his life… including learning to run long distances!

In May 2024, Lachy is running over 1000km from Brisbane to Sydney for mental health. He’s doing it to promote awareness of mental health, and raise money for charity Heart On My Sleeve. Join us as we explore how running has helped Lachy turn a rock bottom moment into inspiration for all of us.

Key points

In this episode Lachy shares: 

• The feeling of being let down by his father
• How alcohol and drugs helped him cope
• How he developed a belief that he wasn't good enough
• The moment he came close to taking his own life
• How running helped him improve his mental health
• The experience of doing his first ultra-marathon
• How his running has evolved
• The Brisbane to Sydney run he is planning to complete
• The charity Heart On My Sleeve

Key quotes

"All I ever wanted to be was someone else. I never wanted to be myself because I didn't think I was good enough.”

"I went through my life and I always believed I was destined for greatness. And I think I lent on that to assume something was just going to happen in my life.”

"For so long, vulnerability has been disguised as weakness when it's really a strength."

Connect with Lachy:

Donate: https://fundraising.heartonmysleeve.org/1000-km-brisbane-to-sydney-run
Charity: https://www.heartonmysleeve.org

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lachycam_runs/

Connect with Mindful Men

Website at www.mindful-men.com.au

Community Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2050441875316594

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mindful.men.aus

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindful.men.aus/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simon-rinne-246207247/

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mindful.men.aus

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbXBNQmbj4ZQj3rzFAZALTA

***If anything triggers you from today's episode, please reach out to your support networks or seek professional help***

Stay Mindful, Simon